Image forming apparatus to restrict use of a hard disc drive and a method thereof

Abstract

An image forming apparatus capable of restricting use of a hard disc drive and a method of restricting the use of the hard disc drive of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes an interface unit to detect whether a hard disc drive is installed, and a control unit to execute an authentication procedure for the installed hard disc drive and to control whether data stored into the installed hard disc drive is printable by the image forming apparatus based on a result of the authentication procedure. Thus, even if the hard disc drive is maliciously taken, the use of the hard disc drive is not allowed if information about specifications of the hard disc drive does not match with stored information about reference specifications during the authentication procedure. Accordingly, the data stored in the hard disc drive are protected from any malicious purpose, thereby providing users with enhanced security and convenience.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (a) of Korean Patent Application No. 2004-82976, filed on Oct. 18, 2004, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present general inventive concept relates to an image forming apparatus and a method of restricting use of a hard disc drive of the image forming apparatus. More particularly, the present general inventive concept relates to an image forming apparatus capable of printing data that is stored in an attachable / detachable hard disc drive onto a sheet of paper and a method of restricting use of the hard disc drive of the image forming apparatus. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] A conventional image forming apparatus is a device for printing data that is stored in a recoding medium onto a sheet of paper using a developer such as a toner. Typical examples of the con...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] The present general inventive concept provides an image forming apparatus capable of restricting use of a hard disc drive by comparing information about specifications of the hard disc drive when the hard disc drive is attached to the image forming apparatus with informatio

Problems solved by technology

Therefore, when the hard disc drive is maliciously taken, the personal data and the highly confidential data related to be printed or faxed that are stored in the hard disc drive may be undesirably exposed to the public or other unintended viewers.

Accordingly, there is a risk of exposing the confidential data or the personal data that is not protected by the security measures to the public or the other unintended viewers.

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